Dominion considers new route for Fauquier power line

Dominion Power is eying a new option for its proposed power line through Fauquier County.

After what Dominion officials called their most productive Community Advisory Group (CAG) meeting to date, the Virginia utilities giant will consider a third option that would run transmission lines from the Wheeler substation in Prince William County down to a proposed Vint Hill Road-area substation yet-to-be-constructed.

It would also include doubling up of the line between the Warrenton and Remington substations.

That route was originally on the table when the CAG began meeting this spring. However, it went on the back burner, largely due to its $128.5 million price tag.

The first option – running a new line from Warrenton and Wheeler – was projected to cost just $75 million. However, it has received ample criticism from many on the CAG who were concerned about preserving the Auburn and Buckland Mills battlefields in eastern Fauquier County.

Dominion spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson also said that the difference in cost between the two options may not be as great as what the utilities company initially projected.

"It [June 6 meeting] was a great example of where we see the process working like it was supposed to," said Anderson.

The CAG will likely not meet again until July, giving Dominion time to analyze potential constraints with the new options.

Please pick up a copy of Wednesday's Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.